In the face of increasing social division and the rise of authoritarian tendencies, the 19th Ulmer Denkanstöße to the question of how emotions and polarisation are connected: Do emotions divide our society - or can they also build bridges? The multi-day discussion and cultural event, which is known beyond the region and will take place from 12 to 14 March in the Stadthaus Ulm, will once again offer a top-class programme with a number of celebrities. To kick things off, the film L.A. Crash will be shown in the Xinedome on Wednesday, 11 March. Apart from the film, all events are free of charge.
Social debates are no longer just about facts. Emotions are often a driving factor, especially when it comes to highly polarising topics - they range from anger, hatred, fear and outrage to hope and solidarity. "These feelings shape our perceptions, our judgements, our discussions and our interactions - whether at the kitchen table, on social media, in talk shows or in politics," says Iris Mann, Cultural Lord Mayor of the city of Ulm. "In this event, we want to explore together what role emotions play in public debates, why they are so powerful - and how we can deal with them without alienating each other," adds Professor of Humanities Rebekka Hufendiek. The Head of the School of Humanities at Ulm University and her team are organising the Ulm Food for Thought together with the City of Ulm's Department of Culture and the Sparda-Bank Baden-Württemberg Foundation for Education and Social Affairs.
The opening lecture will be given by Samira El Ouassil on Thursday, 12 March at 19:30. The actress and publicist will talk about "The art of remaining divided" and will combine sociological polarisation research with a cultural studies perspective on the desire for "depolarisation" in her lecture. Dr Nadja-Raphaela Baer from Humboldt-University zu Berlin, Zurich journalist Manuel Stark and Leonie Pessara from Werkstatt für Verständigung Berlin will reinforce the discussion panel on Friday, 13 March (16:00 to 18:00) on the tension between polarisation and cohesion. On Friday evening at 19:00, the discussion will centre on a hotly debated issue that is particularly explosive for young people: a social media ban for young people. In a debate based on the ZDF format "13 Questions", six participants will discuss, respond to arguments and explore the scope for compromise. The event will be moderated by Berlin journalist Salwa Houmsi.
The reading and subsequent discussion on Saturday, 14 March (14:00 to 15:30) will focus on how to learn to argue properly again in times of polarisation. Professor Meron Mendel and Saba-Nur Cheema will demonstrate that this is possible. The Israeli-German pedagogue and director of the Anne Frank Educational Centre and the German-Pakistani educationalist and political scientist Saba-Nur Cheema are not only a couple in their private lives. They also publish together, including on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. In their FAZ column "Muslim-Jewish Evening Meal", they take a joint look at the increasingly polarised world. Their motto is "out of the echo chambers" and "into the grey areas".
The closing lecture on Saturday at 16:00 on deradicalisation and the prevention of violence will be given by Peter Anhalt. The theologian and supervisor heads the right-wing extremism discipline at the Violence Prevention Network Berlin. In his lecture "Between anger and world view: emotions in radicalisation and prevention", Anhalt will use specific cases to show how biographical experiences and collective dynamics combine and how emotionally charged situations can turn into violent thoughts and actions.
All Stadthaus events are free of charge - donations are requested!
"Year after year, Ulm's thought-provoking events impress with their highly topical and explosive themes. Anyone who has been to the Ulm thought-provoking events wants to go every year. Supporting the lecture series is a matter close to our hearts," says Martin Buch, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Education and Social Foundation of Sparda-Bank Baden-Württemberg. As in previous years, the foundation, as co-organiser and supporter, is largely responsible for ensuring that admission to all events in the Stadthaus is free of charge for visitors. The film screening in the Xinedome costs 5 euros.
As in previous years, the amount raised will be doubled by the Sparda Bank's Education and Social Foundation and publicly handed over as a symbolic cheque at the end of the event. The detailed programme and - after the end of the event - the recording of the contributions will be available online at www.ulmer-denkanstoesse.de.
Further information:
Bettina Meyer-Quintus, Ulm University, Humboldt Centre for Philosophy and the Humanities, Mail: bettina.meyer-quintus(at)uni-ulm.de, Tel. (0731) 50-23461
Appendix: Flyer on the programme of the Ulmer Denkanstöße 2026
Text and media contact: Andrea Weber-Tuckermann